Hello to the group,

I've had my website www.woodturningvideosplus.com up for more than a year
now and I'm starting to look at how I can redesign the website to make it
more user friendly and easier to navigate for visitors. I would love to hear
any of your comments on how I can make the educational portions of the
website (accessible from the left navigation buttons - Main Library, Tips
Library and Video Tips Library) easier to read and navigate. Comments on the
rest of the website's overall look and feel would be great as well, if you
are so inclined.

Right now, the articles in our free educational libraries are accessed
through a main menu, with a short description of the article and a thumbnail
image, or a video screen for video tips. As my libraries continue to grow,
this style of interface seems like it might get cumbersome. For example,
when there are 100 or 150 tips articles listed, you would have to scroll
down quite a bit to get to the article you want to read. What about when
there are 200 or more articles listed?

When you access libraries like these, what would make the experience more
enjoyable for you? How can I redesign the interface so it's easier to
navigate? Do you want high resolution photos accessible from a click on the
photo in the article? What about a website search function, so you can
search for topic keywords like "Irish Grind" and get a list of articles that
have these keywords in them? What other goodies do you like/want/demand in a
website with a large amount of content?

Right now, we're trying to code and shoot photos for more than a hundred new
articles for the main library and the tips libraries. We are also adding
more video tips. When these libraries swell to over a hundred articles and
tips each, it seems like it's going to be hard to navigate. Can you help me
with some ideas, or comments (good or bad, are all welcome) to improve the
site's look and feel in our libraries? I would really appreciate some help
on this to make the site more user friendly. Thanks for your help and
assistance. Take care and best wishes to you and yours!


--
Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio, The Woodlands, Texas
Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

Website: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html

Hello Steve,

For a tips page I think using the brief descriptions you have now are
quite informative, e.g., 'Dry Grinder
Wheel Maintenance' or 'Super Glue: Tips and Tricks'.

Put just the brief descriptions on an index page with 2 (or perhaps 3)
columns. That way the long scroll down is
limited somewhat. No pics on this index page.

You may also consider an option for those folks still using dial-up
and have either low res pics or no pics.

A search function is a good idea but can be a bear to set up with
spelling skills being somewhat varied.


On Mar 17, 12:33 pm, Steve Russell wrote:
Hello to the group,


Right now, the articles in our free educational libraries are accessed
through a main menu, with a short description of the article and a thumbnail
image, or a video screen for video tips. As my libraries continue to grow,
this style of interface seems like it might get cumbersome. For example,
when there are 100 or 150 tips articles listed, you would have to scroll
down quite a bit to get to the article you want to read. What about when
there are 200 or more articles listed?



Website:http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at:http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:33:34 -0500, Steve Russell
wrote:

Right now, the articles in our free educational libraries are accessed
through a main menu, with a short description of the article and a thumbnail
image, or a video screen for video tips. As my libraries continue to grow,
this style of interface seems like it might get cumbersome. For example,
when there are 100 or 150 tips articles listed, you would have to scroll
down quite a bit to get to the article you want to read. What about when
there are 200 or more articles listed?
Always a hard question... folding or drop down trees are the usual answer, but
they can be cumbersome for the user..
You also have to divide the topics into main and sub headings/topics, which is a
lot of work for you..

When you access libraries like these, what would make the experience more
enjoyable for you? How can I redesign the interface so it's easier to
navigate? Do you want high resolution photos accessible from a click on the
photo in the article? What about a website search function, so you can
search for topic keywords like "Irish Grind" and get a list of articles that
have these keywords in them? What other goodies do you like/want/demand in a
website with a large amount of content?

I've been pretty unhappy with search features, but if your site is designed
around them it can be very helpful.. they sort of need a site that was built in
topic-oriented pages that stand alone to make them searchable... or at least for
a usable result to come up..
The usual result is a list of local URL's that when clicked on MIGHT come up
with a page that's understandable or relevant on it's own...

Something that I've noticed several times on your site is that you have some
very good photos, the euro pen tutorial, for example, that are very small..
Personally, I'd like to see larger pictures there or pictures that enlarge when
clicked on, so I can see what you are explaining... a picture of a pen at less
than actual size, especially on the notebook screen in the shop, doesn't show
much detail, especially on things like "how did he say to do that tenon" or
"what are those tiny things he says you can use for mandrels?"

I build and maintain pages for a living, though none as complex as your site,
and I can honestly say that I sure do prefer the time that I spend making
shavings..

Try to have fun with it, Steve... It will drive you even crazier if you don't..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Hello Kevin,

Thanks for your advice... :-) I'm thinking of keeping the basic format, but
maybe expanding the libraries as the amount of articles grows. For example,
Tips 1, Tips 2 etc. That way, each library would not be too long and you
could categorise each library easier. For example, Tips 1 could be General
Turning articles. Tips 2 could be Finishing etc...

We're looking into redoing the photos with different resolution options for
dial-up, broadband etc. Lots of stuff to think about! Thanks again and all
the best to you and yours!

On 3/17/08 3:01 PM, in article
, "Kevin"
wrote:

Hello Steve,

For a tips page I think using the brief descriptions you have now are
quite informative, e.g., 'Dry Grinder
Wheel Maintenance' or 'Super Glue: Tips and Tricks'.

Put just the brief descriptions on an index page with 2 (or perhaps 3)
columns. That way the long scroll down is
limited somewhat. No pics on this index page.

You may also consider an option for those folks still using dial-up
and have either low res pics or no pics.

A search function is a good idea but can be a bear to set up with
spelling skills being somewhat varied.


On Mar 17, 12:33 pm, Steve Russell wrote:
--
Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio, The Woodlands, Texas
Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

Website: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html

Hello Mac,


Thanks for your comments...

I agree that the search function on most websites is less than adequate. I'm
not sure how to make a decent search function, but I'm looking into it...

Something that I've noticed several times on your site is that you have some
very good photos, the euro pen tutorial, for example, that are very small..
Personally, I'd like to see larger pictures there or pictures that enlarge
when clicked on, so I can see what you are explaining... a picture of a pen at
less than actual size, especially on the notebook screen in the shop, doesn't
show much detail, especially on things like "how did he say to do that tenon"
or "what are those tiny things he says you can use for mandrels?"

I build and maintain pages for a living, though none as complex as your site,
and I can honestly say that I sure do prefer the time that I spend making
shavings..Try to have fun with it, Steve... It will drive you even crazier if
you don't..

Redoing the photos is on my list of things to do for sure... I'm still
learning Photoshop CS3E, so that has been the hold-up... HTML can give you
grey hairs for sure... Even when you think you've got it perfect with IE, or
Safari, someone using Opera, SeaMonkey, Flock, Netscape or Firefox may say
something is out of whack.

I now try to debug using no less than seven browsers, to try and make
everything work across all platforms. It can be a bear at times getting
everything right... Learning Flash was *real* fun as well... That's another
kettle of fish to debug across several platforms. :-0 Take care and all the
best to you and yours!

--
Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio, The Woodlands, Texas
Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

Website: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html

In message , Steve Russell
writes

Redoing the photos is on my list of things to do for sure... I'm still
learning Photoshop CS3E, so that has been the hold-up... HTML can give you
grey hairs for sure... Even when you think you've got it perfect with IE, or
Safari, someone using Opera, SeaMonkey, Flock, Netscape or Firefox may say
something is out of whack.


Steve not sure if you got my private email on the subject of your
re-design, but here is a solution to your image sizing issue and its
free

http://adionsoft.net/fastimageresize/

There are also many pieces of software for bulk file renaming but one i
like to use is Namo by http://www.somewareonthe.net/ but this one cost
a massive $29 - They also do a bulk image processor
--
John

Hello John,

Thanks for the link... I got your PM, but I have not had a chance to reply.
I've been up to my ears in alligators, whilst trying to juggle three Stihl
066's with 48" bars... Well, it seems like that anyway. I'm so busy these
days I need three more of me. :-) I will send you an email this weekend.
Thanks so much for helping me out.

On 3/19/08 2:29 PM, in article , "John"
wrote:

In message , Steve Russell
writes

Redoing the photos is on my list of things to do for sure... I'm still
learning Photoshop CS3E, so that has been the hold-up... HTML can give you
grey hairs for sure... Even when you think you've got it perfect with IE, or
Safari, someone using Opera, SeaMonkey, Flock, Netscape or Firefox may say
something is out of whack.


Steve not sure if you got my private email on the subject of your
re-design, but here is a solution to your image sizing issue and its
free

http://adionsoft.net/fastimageresize/

There are also many pieces of software for bulk file renaming but one i
like to use is Namo by http://www.somewareonthe.net/ but this one cost
a massive $29 - They also do a bulk image processor

--
Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio, The Woodlands, Texas
Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

Website: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html

In message , Steve Russell
writes
Hello John,

Thanks for the link... I got your PM, but I have not had a chance to reply.
I've been up to my ears in alligators, whilst trying to juggle three Stihl
066's with 48" bars... Well, it seems like that anyway. I'm so busy these
days I need three more of me. :-) I will send you an email this weekend.
Thanks so much for helping me out.

Hi Steve no problems. Now juggling 2 bowl gouges, that would be a feat


--
John

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:15:18 GMT, John wrote:

In message , Steve Russell
writes
Hello John,

Thanks for the link... I got your PM, but I have not had a chance to reply.
I've been up to my ears in alligators, whilst trying to juggle three Stihl
066's with 48" bars... Well, it seems like that anyway. I'm so busy these
days I need three more of me. :-) I will send you an email this weekend.
Thanks so much for helping me out.

Hi Steve no problems. Now juggling 2 bowl gouges, that would be a feat

or a hand..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

A couple of minor issues on the site.

Menus
The color contrast is not optimum, the rollover hover highlight is decent
but the non-selected menu items are of low contrast for color blind
individuals.

The menu items, because you used graphics instead of text, are blurry.
The red of the outline is bleeding into the text characters. Since you're
not using drop shadows, try converting to two color before the final jpg
or gif output for the menus. Converting the colorspace should help to
keep the edges of the text characters sharp. The best compression process
will depend on your graphics package(s). I find "Video Preview" and "Pen
Turning", and "Writing Pens" the blurriest, but all the menu and site
graphics including the title are of poor quality.

Use more contrast or graphic definition for "current page" menu item
state. The white for "current page" state can get easily lost in the low
contrast menu. That's probably why "Writing Pens" still has inconsistent
colors for it's menu states.

"Writing Pens" has the "current page" color for it's non-selected state.
"Boiling Wood" has black as the "current page" color instead of "white".

Use a web system with "skins" or "themes" to provide high-bandwidth, low-
bandwidth, non-javascript, or alternate language versions of your site.

All pictures should have thumbnails and be click-able and zoom-able. The
size of most pictures on the site currently would be considered the
thumbnails.

Add as many pictures as your bandwidth can afford.

Start categorizing now using metawords and google custom search.
http://www.google.com/coop/cse/
If you don't want ads and don't want to pay $100 a year that's ok, just
don't publish or add links to the search pages. The format changes for
your pages will still be the same using another package (PHP,Perl,Yahoo,
etc.) You can test the pages yourself using google w/ads and when you
finally find and set up the search app you'll have all the pages already
tagged. There are a number of free search apps available and many scripts
to produce static index pages from keywords.
Category and index search is simple once/if you go to a CGI based website
using a sql backend.

PDF printable downloads for all tips. This provides embedded branding and
reduces traffic. Dual PDF's should be produced, one with no or highly
compressed graphics and one with best graphics.

Add a voting or rating system for tips.
Use weblogs to report and rate tip usage.
Use a local ad engine to promote "most popular" and "low use" articles.
Metrics from ad system can help determine articles to retire or re-rank,
naming convention impact, etc. i.e. If nobody goes to a page, maybe no
one can find it. But, if you advertise the "low use" page to 10,000
people and no one clicks on it, maybe it's not a valuable page or it may
have a bad title.

I prefer sites with over 1000 pages to have all forms of indexing and
search available. Content categories, a cross reference index A-Z, and
full text search.

Hello Joe,

Wow, lots of good info, thanks! I only understand about half of what you
mentioned, but that gives me a lot of new things to learn. :-)

I use a special program (template style) to create the website. I have some
control over some aspects of the design and no control over others... Right
now, I'm trying to learn Dreamweaver, so I can control all aspects of the
design and navigation.

You gave me lots to think about, thanks! Take care and all the best to you
and yours!
--
Better Woodturning and Finishing Through Chemistry...

Steven D. Russell
Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio, The Woodlands, Texas
Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning
Industries

Website: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com
Free Monthly Woodturning Newsletter * Your email is kept confidential
Sign up at: http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/lathe-talk.html